The Ready to Succeed Scholarship is open to students whose families make less than $110,000 and who maintain a 3.25 GPA at any college or university in Pennsylvania. Full-time students would be eligible for up to $2,000 per year. Part-time students would be eligible for up to $1,000 per year.

Senate Bill 1361 was referred to the state Senate Education Committee this week, according to Sen. Kim Ward's chief of staff, who anticipated the bill going before a vote in mid-June.

"With the governor's support, and the support of all the families that will be eligible for these grants throughout the commonwealth, I fully expect to see this bill, hopefully, get through the Senate in a very short time," Ward said at a news conference at Westmoreland County Community College Friday. "We will be working hard with our colleagues in the Senate and our governor to ensure that all eligible families have access to this program by fall."

Gov. Tom Corbett said more than 40 percent, or about $27 billion, of the state's budget is allocated for education. He said his priority when focusing on education spending is to invest in students for a better return in the future.

"Any student or parent can tell you the cost of higher education has climbed almost out of reach for many in the middle class," Corbett said. "There's a gap in the system. Can we address that for students who would like to go, who are going, who are doing well but whose parents may not be able to afford to keep them in there? Maybe this little bit helps them do that."

Corbett pointed out there is no federal funding in the state's budget for education anymore, which is why coming up with funding sources has been difficult. This program would set aside $25 million to be given to eligible students.

SIX ARE FROM THE LAST TWO RECRUITING CLASSES. A TOTAL OF 54 OFFICERS LEFT IN 2013. THERE'S NO DENYING IT. COLLEGE IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND MANY PENNSYLVANIA FAMILIES COULD USE HELP COVERING THE COSTS. LAWMAKERS ARE COMING TO THEIR RESCUE. WE HAVE HOW YOU CAN GET PAID TO LEARN. Reporter: JUST THINKING OF PAYING FOR COLLEGE CAN MAKE YOUR WALLET HURT. THE READY TO SUCCEED PROGRAM WOULD HELP EASE THAT COSTLY BURDEN. THE PO POWE SAL IN THE SENATE COULD GIVE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES IN PENNSYLVANIA MAKING LESS THAN $110,000 PER YEAR A $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP PER YEAR FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS. THERE'S A LOT OF AID THAT PASSES OVER THE MIDDLE CLASS AND A LOT OF AID I'VE WANTED TO APPLY FOR BUT I WASN'T ELIGIBLE FOR. THIS WILL ALLOW ME OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE STUDYING UNDERGRAD AND THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL AS WELL. Reporter: THE COST OF PUBLIC COLLEGE TUITION HAS INCREASED FROM $1600 TOTAL IN 1975 TO MORE THAN $22,000 IN 2013. SINGLE MOTHER OF TWINS, HAS TO BOW OUT OF ENTERING THE NURSING PROGRAM AT WESTMORELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE THIS FALL. I DIDN'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL AID AND MONEY TO COVER. I WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH OVER $1,000 TO COVER THE ENTRANCE FROM THE NURSING PROGRAM. Reporter: THIS PROGRAM WOULD HAVE HELPED HER WHO MEET THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS AND MAINTAIN A 3.25 GPA. THERE'S A GAP IN THE SYSTEM. CAN WE ADDRESS THAT FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO AND DOING WELL BUT WHOSE PARENTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO KEEP THEM IN THERE AND MAYBE THIS LITTLE BIT HELPS THEM DO THAT. Reporter: THE BILL JUST WENT BEFORE THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE THE WEEK.